Envelope making machine for making individual envelopes for use in tabulators, computers, computer printers, and like business machines



E. B. BERKLEY Sheets-Sheet 1 COMPUTERS COMPUTER AND LIKE BUSINESS MACHINES iii i 95 1 ii i 5. 3 ww PRINTERS ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE FOR MAKING INDIVIDUAL ENVELOPES FOR USE IN TABULATORS ATTORNEX.

June 18, 1968 R L Y 3,388,642

ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE FOR MAKING INDIVIDUAL ENVELOPES FOR USE IN TABULATORS, COMPUTERS, COMPUTER v PRINTERS, AND LIKE BUSINESS MACHINES Filed May 20, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 0 3,388,642 ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE FOR MAKING INDIVIDUAL ENVELUPES FOR USE IN TABU- LATORS, CGMPUTERS, COMPUTER PRE ITERS, AND LIKE BUSXNESS MACHINES Eugene B. Berkley, Shawnee Mission, Kans., assignor to Tension Envelope Corporation, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 20, 1966, Ser. No. 551,662 9 Claims. (Cl. 93-62) This invention relates to rotary envelope making machines, and has for its principal object to provide such machines with apparatus for making individual envelopes such as are used in tabulators, computers, computer printers, and similar machines.

One style of envelope for such use is folded from die cut blanks, and consists of generally rectangular front and back panels folded one upon the other to provide a bottom fold, with one of said panels having folded-over side flaps sealed to the other panel by adhesive, and said other panel having a detachable lateral extension or wing projecting from one or both side edges and which is provided with a series of holes along the outer margin thereof and has a perforate line of detachment at its connection with the panel.

Rotary envelope making machines now being used in the envelope manufacturing industry are well adapted for folding die cut blanks into ordinary envelopes by a single pass through the machine, but such envelope making machines cannot make envelopes of the type above described.

In the present manufacture of such envelopes, the blanks, after being die out, are run through a punching machine wherein the blanks are fed from a stack to a registering mechanism in which the blanks are registered with respect to a punching mechanism. After punching and perforating, the blanks are restacked, conveyed to, and placed in the envelope making machine. In the envelope making machine, the blanks are withdrawn from the stack in registering relation with printing, window forming, and patch applying mechanisms, after which they are collated for gumming the closure flaps, and the collated blanks are carried through a drying means. After drying of the adhesive on the closure flaps, the blanks are decollated and re-registered with respect to a scoring mechanism. The side flaps of the scored blanks are folded and adhesive is applied thereto for sealing the back panel when folded thereon, after which the closure flaps are folded and the envelopes stacked for boxing.

The only other method now in use is to punch the holes in the extensions after the envelopes have been formed in an envelope making machine, however, this also requires a separate run of the envelopes through a separate punching machine.

Punching of the holes in separate machines requires so much extra handling that such envelopes are expensive to manufacture, and the cost to the customer is high.

It has been found that many of the steps, particularly the registering of the blanks, are duplicated in the two machines, therefore, the present invention contemplates [the provision of a rotary envelope making machine with a self-contained punching mechanism in association with one or the other of the blank registering mechanisms thereof, that is, the one registering the blanks into the machine, or the one where the blanks are decollated and reregistered into the scoring mechanism. Preferably, the invention contemplates that the punching apparatus be incorporated into the machine immediately following the blank scoring means, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1 and 1-A, together, constitute a longitudinal section illustrating the elements in a rotary envelope mak- Too ing machine starting with the decollating rollers and ending with the stacking means for the finished envelopes, and including the punching and scoring mechanisms of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the rotary elements shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an envelope blank as it appears when separated by the decollating rollers.

FIG. 4 is a similar view of the same blank after passing the scoring rollers.

FIG. 5 is a similar perspective view of the blank as it appears after passing the punching and perforating mechanisms for the panel extensions.

FIG. 6 is a similar view showing the side flaps folded and adhesive applied thereto.

FIG. 7 is a similar perspective view showing the back panel folded over and sealed to the adhesive on the side flaps.

FIG. 8 is a similar perspective view showing the fold of the closure flap and the envelope as it appears when ready for boxing.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a folding section of a rotary envelope making machine following the general construction of Type 129-DS manufactured by Winkler & Diinnebier Maschinenfabrik und Eisengiesserei, Neuwied-Rhein, Germany, but modified in accordance with the present invention for making individual envelopes for use in tabulators, computers, computer printers, and similar business machines. While a panticular type of machine is illustrated and described, other types of rotary envelope making machines may be similarly converted to accomplish the present invention, and it is to be understood that the present invention may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of the invention.

The envelope illustrated and described specifically forms no part of the present invention and may be any envelope folded from an individual blank and having a detachable extension or extensions, each provided with a series of holes to coact with the holding, timing and conveying assemblages of a tabulator, computer, computer printer, or other machine in which such types of envelopes are used.

The envelope 2 illustrated is initially a blank 3 which may be made by die cutting thereof from a stack of sheets to provide a front panel portion 4 and a back panel portion 5, integrally connected. The blank also has a closure flap portion 6 extending along one of the panel portions, for example, the front panel portion 4 opposite the panel portion 5; side flaps 7 and 8 on the side ends of one of the panel portions, for example, the panel portion 4; and in the illustrated instance extensions 9 and 10 from the opposite side ends of the other panel portion 5. The extensions 9 and 10 may be wider than the side flaps 7 and 8 to simplify the hole forming mechanism illustrated, as later described.

In rotary envelope making machines of the type illustrated, the blanks are fed from .a stack one at a time in registering relation with printing, window forming and/ or patch applying mechanism, after which they are collated for applying adhesive 11 to the closure flaps 6, and the collated blanks are carried through a drying zone. These portions of the machine are not illustrated in the present drawings, except for the conveyor 12 that delivers the blanks 3 in collation to the folding section 1 of the machine. The folding section includes a conveyor 13 operating at a higher speed than the conveyor 12 and cooperating with high speed rollers 14 and 15 that draw out the blanks separately from the conveyor 12, to be deposited one at a time onto the conveyor 13. The conveyor 13 comprises laterally spaced chains 16-16, each having pairs of pins 17 and 18 to engage the individual blanks in notches 19 and 20 that are provided between the side and closure flaps, as best illustrated in FIG. 3. Movement of the blanks is retarded against push of the pins 17 and 18 by pairs of brush elements 21 bearing upon the upper surface of the blanks, the purpose being to register the blanks with a scoring means 22. The scoring means includes a scoring roller 23 rotatably mounted at the delivery end of the conveyor 13, and a lower backup roller 24 to score the blanks as indicated by the score lines 25 and 26 shown in FIG. 4 as the blanks pass therebetween. The blanks are accurately held between the scoring rollers in the same registering relation, and in accordance with the present invention the blanks are passed through a hole punching mechanism 27 by which a series of holes 28 is punched in the marginal side edge of each extension 9 and 10 (see FIG. 5).

The hole punching mechanism 27 illustrated comprises upper and lower shafts 29 and 30 driven in timed relation with the scoring rollers 23 and 24. Fixed on the shaft 29 are disks 31 and 32 having their peripheries arranged to roll over the outer margins of the extensions. The peripheries of the disks have a series of punch elements 33 that cooperate with openings 34 in the periphcries of similar, but hollow, disks 35 and 36 fixed on the shaft 30 in registering relation with the disks 31 and 32. The punches are of a size and spacing to punch out the material of the extensions in providing holes 28 of the desired size and spacing. The hollow disks 35 and 36 of the punching mechanism are preferably provided with suction, to withdraw the material punched from the holes 28 out of the openings 34 and carry it to a place of disposal.

Upon punching the holes 28, further advance of the blanks moves the blanks through a perforating mechanism 37 including upper and lower shafts 38 and 39 driven in timed relation with the shafts of the punch mechanism. The upper shaft 38 carries perforating wheels 40 and 41 cooperating with a segment 42 on the shaft 39 to produce easy lines of tear 43 and 44 at the connection of the extensions 9 and 10 with the side ends of the panel 5 (see FIG. 5).

Since the blanks are backed only by the segment 42 on the shaft 39 and the shaft 39 is driven in time with the travel of the blanks, the perforating wheels 40 and 41 ride freely over the side flaps 7 and 8 without producing perforations.

The blanks are delivered, after passing the perforating mechanism 37, to a side flap folding mechanism 45 which has folders 46 and 47 operating in timed relation with the travel of the blanks to fold the side flaps 7 and 8 over the side ends of the panel 4.

From the folding mechanism 45, the blanks continue their travel, still held in registered relation, through an adhesive applying mechanism 48 that includes a backup roller 49 and an upper roller shaft 50 carrying adhesive applicator segments 51 and 52 for depositing stripes of adhesive 53 and 54 upon the inturned side flaps 7 and 8, as shown in FIG. 6.

The blanks continue their separate advance between an upper pressure roller 55 and a lower suction roller 56, so that the panel 5 having the extensions 9 and 10 is directed upwardly over a roller 57. The suction roller 56 has suction ports 58 that seize the blank on the trailing side of the score 25, so as to carry the blank downwardly around the periphery of the suction roll 56 and direct it under the roller 57, so as to produce a told on the score 25 and bring the panel 5 into sealing contact with the adhesive stripes 53 and 54 on the side flaps 7 and 8 (see FIG. 7) as the blank continues its travel between the rollers 56 and 57. The blanks continue their travel with the folded edge passing between an upper pressure roller 59 and a lower suction roller 60, which direct the blank into a trap 61, at which time suction ports 62 in the suction roller seize the closure flap 6 along the trailing side of the score 26, to draw the blank downwardly between the suction roller 60 and a cooperating roller 63 for folding the closure fiap 6 over the panel 5, as shown in FIG. 8, after which the blanks are dropped into a stacking mechanism 64 which gathers the finished envelopes into a stack on a delivery table 65, from which the operator removes the finished envelopes for boxing.

With the machine of the present invention, it is obvious that the blanks are folded into envelopes, that the series of holes 23 is punched in each side extension, and that the extensions are provided with the lines of perforations 43 and 44, all in a single run through a single machine, thereby eliminating manual handling from the time the blanks are inserted in the machine to the re moval of the finished envelopes therefrom.

Also, a better product is produced, in that the holes, being formed with one and the same registration, have the same relative position with respect to folds of the envelope.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An envelope making machine for making individual envelopes for use in tabulators, computers, computer printers and like business machines, which envelopes are characterized by a detachable extension projecting from one or both side edges and said extensions having a series of holes to coact with the envelope holding, timing and conveying assemblages of such business machines, said envelope making machine including means for moving envelope blanks in a fixed path through the machine,

sets of mechanisms along said path of blanks, each performing an operation on said blanks,

means for registering the blanks with respect to one set of said mechanisms, and

means in the path of the registered blanks for punching holes in said extensions.

2. An envelope making machine for making individual envelopes for use in tabulators, computers, computer printers and like business machines, which envelopes are characterized by a detachable extension projecting from one or both side edges and said extensions having a series of holes to coact with the envelope holding, timing and conveying assemblages of such business machines, as described in claim 1, and including means for defining on the blanks the line of detachment for said extensions.

3. An envelope making machine for making individual envelopes for use in tabulators, computers, computer printers, and like business machines, which envelopes are characterized by a detachable extension projecting from one or both side edges and said extensions having a series of holes to coact with the envelope holding, timing and conveying assemblages of such business machines, as described in claim 1, said envelope making machine including means for perforating the extensions for defining lines of detachment for said extensions.

4. An envelope making machine for making individual envelopes for use in tabulators, computers, computer printers and like business machines, which envelopes are characterized by a detachable extension projecting from one or both side edges and said extensions having a series of holes to coact with the envelope holding, timing and conveying assemblages of such business machines, as described in claim 1,

wherein the first and second mechanisms of said sets are mechanisms for scoring the blanks and folding side flaps of the blanks, and the means for punching the holes is between the scoring and side flap folding mechanisms.

5. An envelope making machine for making individual envelopes for use in tabulators, computers, computer printers and like business machines, which envelopes are characterized by a detachable extension projecting from one or both side edges and said extensions having a series of holes to coact with the envelope holding, timing and conveying assemblages of such business machines, as described in claim 4, and

means following the punching means for perforating the extensions to provide lines of detachment for the extensions. 6. An envelope making machine for making individual envelopes for use in tabulators, computers, computer rinters and like business machines, which envelopes are characterized by a detachable extension projecting from one or both side edges and having a series of holes to coact with the envelope holding timing and conveying assemblages of such business machines, as described in claim 1, in which the punching means comprises shafts extending transversely above and below said path of the registered blanks, disk means on one of said shafts in alignment with outer margins of said extensions and having a series of punch elements projecting from the periphery of said disk means, and a disk means similarly located on the other shaft and having peripheral holes cooperating with the punches. 7. An envelope making machine for making individual envelopes for use in tabulators, computers, computer printers and like business machines, which envelopes are characterized by a detachable extension projecting from one or both side edges and having a series of holes in said extensions to coact with the envelope holding, timing and conveying assemblages of such business machines, as described in claim 6,

wherein said last named disk means has suction to draw the material removed by the punches away from said blanks. 8. An envelope making machine for making individual envelopes for use in tabulators, computers, computer printers and like business machines, which envelopes are characterized by detachable extensions projecting from side edges thereof and said extensions having a series of holes to coact with the envelope holding, timing and conveying assemblages of such business machines, said envelope making machine including a blank folding section,

means for conveying blanks in collation,

a registering conveyor for delivering the blanks to the folding section of the machine,

blank decollating means between the conveying means and the registering conveyor to draw the blanks from collation and separate them for registration on the registering conveyor,

means for holding the blanks in said registry through the folding section, and

hole punching means in the folding section for punching said series of holes in portions of the blanks that provide said extensions.

9. An envelope making machine for making individual envelopes for use in tabulators, computers, computer printers and like business machines, which envelopes are characterized by detachable extensions projecting from sides thereof and having a series of holes to coact with the envelope holding, timing and conveying assemblages of such business machines, as described in claim 8,

wherein the punching means is near the delivery end of the registering conveyor and ahead of any fold produced in the blanks in said folding section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS BERNARD STICKNEY, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE FOR MAKING INDIVIDUAL ENVELOPES FOR USE IN TABULATORS, COMPUTERS, COMPUTER PRINTERS AND LIKE BUSINESS MACHINES, WHICH ENVELOPES ARE CHARACTERIZED BY A DETACHABLE EXTENSION PROJECTING FROM ONE OR BOTH SIDE EDGES AND SAID EXTENSIONS HAVING A SERIES OF HOLES TO COACT WITH THE ENVELOPE HOLDING, TIMING AND CONVEYING ASSEMBLAGES OF SUCH BUSINESS MACHINES, SAID ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE INCLUDING MEANS FOR MOVING ENVELOPE BLANKS IN A FIXED PATH THROUGH THE MACHINE, SETS OF MECHANISMS ALONG SAID PATH OF BLANKS, EACH PERFORMING AN OPERATION ON SAID BLANKS, MEANS FOR REGISTERING THE BLANKS WITH RESPECT TO ONE SET OF SAID MECHANISMS, AND MEANS IN THE PATH OF THE REGISTERED BLANKS FOR PUNCHING HOLES IN SAID EXTENSIONS. 